10.09.2024
Noah Sommerfeld
A colorful mix of people come together in Cologne. You can study whatever you want at the numerous universities. Whether media, business or medicine – Cologne offers you a wealth of interesting courses. The last question is: do you want to live on the left or right bank of the Rhine?
Study at more than 20 universities – everyone will find something suitable here!
In total, there are more than 20 universities in Cologne where you can study. There are both large universities with a wide range of courses as well as specialized institutions. The most well-known universities in Cologne include:
- the University of Cologne with almost 50,000 students
- the Technical University of Cologne with more than 20,000 students
- the University of Music and Dance Cologne
- the Academy of Media Arts
- the renowned German Sport University Cologne
- the Catholic University of Applied Sciences NRW – Cologne
- the University of Police and Public Administration North Rhine-Westphalia
The university locations are spread across the entire city, so you can find students and like-minded people almost everywhere.
The Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Cologne
Of course, the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences is also represented with its location in the Rhine metropolis of Cologne. At our location in Cologne, you can study various courses in the fields of business & media as well as health & social sciences.
The departments for on-campus courses are only a few meters away from each other and are both located in the Media Park. The location can be reached by several tram lines, and there is also an underground car park nearby. The Media Park is located in Neustadt-Nord on the left bank of the Rhine and is adjacent to the old town.
What would you like to study?
The Fresenius University of Applied Sciences offers you a variety of exciting courses that you can study in Cologne. These include the classic Business Administration (BWL) as well as modern disciplines such as E-Commerce & LogisticsYou will find both Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in the selection and can decide whether you want to study full-time or part-time.
Left or right bank of the Rhine: where students live in Cologne
Cologne is a big city and so the lack of accommodation is a problem that not only affects students. The Cologne Student Union offers 5,000 rooms in 90 dormitories that you can apply for. But be careful: the dormitories are not only located in Cologne. Some are in Gummersbach or Leverkusen-Opladen.
Alternatively, you can look for an apartment or a room in a shared flat. However, opinions differ in Cologne when it comes to the question of the perfect location: should the apartment be on the left bank of the Rhine near the old town or on the right bank? On average, housing on the right bank of the Rhine is a little cheaper than on the left bank, so many students live here.
Overall, what applies to most German cities applies to Cologne: outlying districts are cheaper than centrally located districts (or Veedel, as Cologne residents say). The good thing is that all districts are well connected and you can be in the center and on campus in no time.
Trendy districts: Kwartier Latäng and Co.
Of course, there are some areas in the cathedral city that are particularly popular among students. So if you want to get to know other academics, these districts are the perfect place to go. They are young and hip and there are many cafés, pubs and bars where you can stop off. The most popular trendy districts are:
- Cologne-Ehrenfeld with bars and clubs next to cafes and restaurants
- the Kwartier Latäng, which is borrowed from its Parisian counterpart “Quartier Latin” and is located directly at the University of Cologne
- the Belgian Quarter with a lively artist and music scene
Cologne is well connected
Cologne, a city with a population of one million in North Rhine-Westphalia, has excellent local and long-distance transport links. So you don’t have to live directly in Cologne to study here. There are plenty of alternatives in the surrounding area. Make sure you have good transport links and find an affordable apartment outside the city limits.
Popular neighboring towns are Leverkusen, Monheim am Rhein and Pulheim in the north, Frechen and Kerpen in the west, Bergisch Gladbach in the east and Hürth, Brühl and Troisdorf in the south. From all of these cities you only have a short journey to Cologne, but you live in a quieter and cheaper place.
Carnival, football and Kölsch: This is what Cologne has to offer
Cologne is a colorful, lively city. During the carnival season between November 11th and Ash Wednesday, you will find many carnival events in Cologne that you can attend. Dressing up is of course almost mandatory here. But even outside of carnival time, you will find many ways to spend your free time in Cologne.
Cologne Cathedral is the city’s landmark and definitely worth a visit. There is hardly a baroque building in Germany that is as well preserved as this church. Or you can attend a concert in the Lanxess Arena, a 1. FC Cologne football match in the RheinEnergieSTADION or a musical in the immediate vicinity of the main train station.
Relaxation and sport on the Rhine
Are you looking for a quieter leisure activity? Then the Rhine or Fühlinger See are the right places for you. Here you can do water sports, go for a walk or enjoy a cool drink. Meet up with your friends and enjoy the lecture-free time. The Cologne Zoo is also worth a visit.
Tips for the Cologne Carnival
As mentioned before, carnival in Cologne is celebrated like a religion. It starts on November 11th of each year and the fools take over the city. There are carnival sessions, celebrations and parades all over the city until Ash Wednesday. For people who are not from the Rhineland, this can be overwhelming.
These are our best tips for the Cologne Carnival:
- Don’t go alone. If it’s your first time at the Cologne Carnival, take some friends with you. Dressing up and celebrating together is more fun anyway. You can also look after each other so that no one gets lost.
- Drink water. At Carnival, the Kölsch just flows, and it can quickly go to your head. You should definitely drink water and eat something in between so that the long party days and nights don’t end unpleasantly.
- Choose wisely. There are countless events you can take part in. Decide in advance what you want to do and stick to your plan. That way you won’t be overwhelmed and you can enjoy the Cologne Carnival!
Going out in Cologne: Zülpicher Straße is calling!
Even when it’s not carnival time, there’s always something going on in Cologne’s nightlife. Cologne is colorful and tolerant: the LGBTQIA2S+ scene is particularly big here. In the area of Zülpicher Straße and the Belgian Quarter you’ll find bars, pubs and clubs where you can dance and party until dawn.
This is what happens after your studies in Cologne
Cologne is not only a metropolis on the Rhine and a cathedral city, but also an important economic location in the west. Many companies in the automotive and chemical industries are based in Cologne. These include Ford and Toyota, for example. If you look a little beyond the city limits, you will find the large chemical company Bayer in Leverkusen, for example.
“Something with media” becomes a tangible future perspective in Cologne
Media companies in North Rhine-Westphalia are also often based in Cologne. These include the WDR, especially with its radio stations, the television station RTL and various production studios, magazines and newspapers. So if you want to work in the media industry after your studies, Cologne is the ideal place.
Industry fairs and job fairs are taking place one after the other
The Cologne Trade Fair hosts numerous relevant industry trade fairs, such as Gamescom, Art Cologne and FIBO. Here you can come into contact with companies in their natural environment. At the same time, you can speak directly to HR staff at job fairs and find out where you would like to apply after graduation. Important events here:
- Gamescom jobs & career parallel zur Gamescom
- ITCS Cologne especially for IT enthusiasts
- VDI News Recruiting Day Cologne for Engineers
- heise Jobs IT Day for IT professionals
- Career Day Cologne
- Graduate Congress Cologne for all young professionals
- Job Fair Cologne
Conclusion: Cologne is colorful, open and lively
If you want to study in a colorful, cosmopolitan city with diverse future prospects, you should definitely take a closer look at Cologne. The people here are open and friendly and will welcome you with open arms. Live your dream and study in Cologne!
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